East Cape

General electorate in Bay of Plenty (formerly East Coast (renamed))

2023 election results(contested as East Coast)Show ▾

Electorate (candidate) votes, 14 October 2023. Winner: Dana Kirkpatrick (National), majority 3,199.

  • Dana KirkpatrickNational17,007 (43.1%)
  • Tāmati CoffeyLabour13,808 (35.0%)
  • Craig SinclairNZ First2,517 (6.4%)
  • Michael HoweACT1,923 (4.9%)
  • Jordan WalkerGreen Party1,765 (4.5%)
  • Fallyn FlavellTe Pāti Māori1,235 (3.1%)
  • Chris RobinsonDNZ625 (1.6%)
  • Leighton PackerVision NZ323 (0.8%)
  • Don RichardsIndependent104 (0.3%)
  • Monaco CaracasIndependent68 (0.2%)
  • Gordon DicksonIndependent66 (0.2%)

Source: Electoral Commission (electionresults.govt.nz). Electorate (candidate) vote only; party vote not shown.

Current MP for East Cape

Dana Kirkpatrick

Current MP
National
FromGisborne
About
Communications professional and former journalist, ex-CEO of Equestrian Sports NZ, MP since 2023.

Focus

Major infrastructure focus: $75M Waioeka Gorge stabilisation, $69M Pekatahi Bridge replacement, $50M SH35 works, $132M flood recovery funding, increased Police in Opotiki, and new school redevelopments.

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Candidates

Jo Luxton

Labour
FromGisborne
About
Former early childhood educator and Labour list MP, served as Minister of Customs.

Focus

Moved to Gisborne to contest the renamed East Cape electorate; focused on cost of living, jobs, healthcare and homes for the East Coast region.

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Darrin Hawkes

New
ACT
About
Engineering leader and business owner; founder of MEL 2020 Ltd.

Focus

Engineering leader campaigning on economic development for the rural East Coast.

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Jordan Walker

New
Green Party
FromGisborne
About
Community advocate focused on equity and environmental justice in climate-affected regions.

Cail Smith

New
TOP
FromGisborne
About
Gisborne-based community leader and systems problem-solver.

Focus

Campaigning on sustainable economic development and environmental protection on the rural East Coast.

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General electorateBay of Plenty2026 General Election - 7 Nov 2026